Composite Lavatory Brake Van (Relief) Class CLV (Southport Vans)

Ipswich workshop built four vans in 1914, and another 3 vans in 1925. The 1925 vans were a little different to the 1914 vans, the Guards lookout was moved from the end up to the next to the second class passenger compartment.  The two passenger compartments and toilets remained the same.

The vans were 40ft long, tare weight was 17 tons 10 cwt. Gross load was 20 tons with a maximum axle load of 5 tons. Carrying capacity was 16 First class and 20 Second passengers. The Guards compartment was just over 11 ft. long.  As the “on the job” name suggests, the vans were used on South Brisbane to Southport/Tweed Heads trains up to the closure of the line in 1964 in sets. A van at each end with two, three or four excursion CL carriages of similar construction made up the set. However at times this did change a bit with some services having CJFP louvered box wagons in the train. Other light weight carriages and vans were also used on the line.  All trains were hauled by PB 15 locomotives.

CLV 1062 Later van with the relocated Guards look out.

The 1963 “List of Coaching Rollingstck” shows 7 vans in service. Nos. 869, 870, 875, 876, 1061, 1062, 1103.

History cars show the follow for each of the vans which provides an insight into their service period and some modifications made during their life time on the rails. 

869 – In Service July 1914 built by Ipswich Shops. Passenger Diagram 86 Drawing # 2843.

Overhauled and Painted Ipswich May 1920, and again Aug 1923. Electric light fitted over Guards seat Ipswich May 1951. Grab rails etc. provided for Guard to reach end of van Ipswich Apr 1958. Lavatory floor painted “Green” Ipswich May 1961. Fitted with electric fans Ipswich 1972. Written off May 1974.

870 – In Service July 1914. Step boards found to be scraping platforms on brake end, hand brake side. Van found to be 2¼ inches off centre. Ipswich May 1955. Reversible boards fitted on first class compartment South Brisbane Jul 1955. Derailed Ipswich Shops Dec 1957. Written off Oct 1966. Burnt Ipswich Apr 1967.

875 – In service Oct 1914. Yellow wood and Silkwood used in construction. Hand rails, step boards etc. fitted to enable Guard to reach end of van Ipswich Mar 1957. Written off May 1974.

876 – In Service Oct 1914. Convert to BLV Ipswich Feb 1966.    Written Off Dec 1987

1061 – In service Feb 1925. Burnt Gympie Dec1977.

1062 – In service Mar 1925. Written off Jul 1985.Sold to resident in Park Ave. Auchenflower.

1103 -. In service Jul 1926 at accost of £2,375.5.11.  Fitted with reversible boards Aug 56. Lavatory floor painted Pave-ol green Ipswich Oct 1960. Safix paper towel dispensers fitted Jan 1963. Guards seats modified, water tanks and hand basin installed Ipswich Nov 1975. Written off Jul 1981.  

CLV 1062 fitted with gas bottles. 

Carriages of a similar design used in the sets were referred to as “Southport Car”.

CL 1063 with logo, time period after 1971. 

Instruction Car 1065 - Mayne Oct 1988.

Mayne - Feb 1994. Sleeping accommodation L/H end, Class room on the R/h end.

CL 1068 - Part of the ARHS Rosewood collection 2004. 

The 1963 “List of Coaching Rollingstck” shows 18 carriages in service.

865, 866, 868, 871 – 874, 943, 957 – 960, 1063 – 1068. 

Once again, history cars give an overview of their time in service. 

CL 865 – In service Sep 1914. Convert to BGV Ipswich Nov 19Jun 1966.Derailed Dinmore Jun 1979. Written off Mar 1984.

CL 866 – In service Jul 1914. Convert to goods van Ipswich May 1966.Written off May 1978.

CL 868 – In service Jul 1914. Convert to BGV Ipswich Jun 1966.    Written off Mar 1984.

CL 871 – In service Oct 1914. All repairs and servicing was carried out at Ipswich Shop, Written off July 1981. Sold for $250.00 to a resident in Ayr, Nov 1981. 

CL 872 – In service Oct 1914. Convert to BGV Ipswich Jun 1966.written off Jan 1984. GM letter car to be retained for Destination Project Cairns.

CL 873 – Inservice Oct 1914. Converted to goods van Ipswich Jun 1966.Gas heater & ring fitted Sep 1980.  Written off Mar 1983

CL 874 – In service Oct 1914.Written off Jun1978.

CL 943 – In service Dec 1918. Converted to BGV Ipswich May 1966. Written off Sep 1984.

CL 957 - In service Dec 1918. Converted to BGV May 1966.  Written off Jul 1985 

CL 958 – In service Dec 1918. Converted to BGV Sep 87. Written off Jul 1989. 

CL 959 – In service Dec 1918. Jan 78 converted to BU Suburban Car 60 seat. Convert to Instruction Car Ipswich Jun 1982.

CL 960 – In service Dec 1918. Written off Feb 1975.Body burnt Frogs Hollow May 1975, Steel underframe used in the construction of 40 ft. Motor Car Wagon SMW 39010.

CL 1063 - In service Dec 1924. Written Off Ipswich Jul 1981.

CL 1064 - In service Feb 1925. Extensive body repairs Ipswich Mar 1950.

CL 1065 – In service Feb 1925. Converted to Dangerous Goods mobile training room Jan 1981. Last recorded service Feb 1987. Regarded as wagon 1065.

CL 1066 – In service Feb 1925. Converted to BGV Mar 1966. Written off Oct 1982.

CL 1067 – In service Mar 1925 Reversible boards on 1^st Class compartment Sth. Brisbane May 1965. Written off Mar 1980.

CL 1068 – In service Mar 1925. Converted to Suburban car with 64 Econ seats Ipswich 1977, classed BL in Jun 1984. Recommended for Condemnation Townsville Jun 1986. Written off Ipswich Dec 1986. 

I have a feeling, one was used on some services on the Brisbane Valley Line. Looking at that, I guess we are lucky that one has been preserved by the ARHS at Rosewood. 

Models.

Caintode Flats Productions makes available to the QR Modellers both the CLV Guards Van and the CL composite lavatory carriage. The CLV van is the 1914 version with the Guard’s lookout on the end, Nos 869, 870, 875, 876. The CL carriage is available with steel or wooden underframes. 

The kits are polyurethane resin and contain all the necessary part including decals (except couple & paint). The kits are well manufactured and make a very nice model. 

The CL carriage has been on the layout for some time and has been mainly used on “Mixed Trains”. Mixed Trains on the QGR network were Goods Trains with passenger accommodation attached, usually a seating or sleeping car marshalled next to the Guard’s van.  

Recently, I purchased a CLV van second hand, the instructions were not included. Given of late I have been added passengers to my carriages and guard vans, I felt either the underframe or the roof have be removable. After the sides were together I made the floor removable using the coupling screws to fix the underframe. Given the construction method of the sides, the seats would be some distance from the sides and may not work the best, as I was not going to fit internal lights. I fitted the steps using cut down staples, when doing so the underframe was fixed to the sides. The end result was the underframe was no longer removable. Coming up with a method to make the roof removable gave better positioning of the seat and passengers could be placed beside the windows making them more visible. A plus being the roof could be pulled into position from under the underframe.       

Painting and detailing of the van was completed the same as other vans built recently. Check out the following blog posts.

GV 18 - October 2022.

CB Guards Van – September 2022.

CLV Guards Vans – August 2022.

VIP Cars – January 2022.

GV Griffith Van (2 Comp) – Dec 2021

GV Griffith Van (1 Comp) – November 2021.

A different approach was used with the seats this time. Blocks of styrene were glued to the floor in the correct location before painting. After the floor was hand painted, the black leather seats and backs were cut from black sheet styrene and glued to the blocks. This saved painting the seat separately.  

Given the windows were glazed, restricting what’s visible inside, not a lot of detail was added to the inside. The roof fixing mechanism was placed in the toilets behind the frosted windows. Passengers were place as close as possible to windows so they would be visible. They were painted in light colours, white, yellow, light blue to help make them more noticeable. 

The passengers were purchased from EBay. There is various types of unpainted seated passengers in various packs. Most packs repeat the same figure several times. Having the same guy in various places on the layout may be an issue, but when used a passengers, its, on so bad. Really, you only see what’s in the window so painting is only a couple of colours, skin for the face, top part of clothing and some hair. Change the shirt colour and you have a different guy. Set them on opposite side of the compartment as you only see one side at a time. Some adjustment with a # 11 blade (hobby knife) can help change their appearance, knock off a hat or reshape it give a different view in the window.

Yes, another van and carriage would make a very nice passenger train for the layout. There is various photos in a number of books of the Southport Express in their hay days in different locations and set configurations.  I guess it more for a steam era modeller, but and the end of the day it your layout. Who knows, it may a diesel excursion up the Brisbane Valley Branch??? 

Trust you found something that was usefully for your modelling endeavours. Many thanks for your support and for checking out the blog. Until next time we hit the tracks on the layout, enjoy your modelling and have fun. 

Acknowledgements.

Brake Vans of the Queensland Railways 1864 - 1980 by John Armstrong.

Wooden Carriages of the Queensland Railways 1864 – 1956 by John Armstrong.

QR “List of Coaching Rollingstock” 3^rd January 1963.

QR Plans

Queensland State Archives

Australian Model Railway Association Queensland Library

Rob Farlow Photo Collection.

 Arthur H.